NOVEL WEB Chapter 1: The Demon's Bargain
In the dying light of dusk, amidst the crumbling ruins of what was once his village, a young boy named Leon huddled in a corner, his small frame racked with coughs and shivers. His once vibrant blue eyes were now dulled by sickness and hunger, and his dirty blonde hair was matted with sweat and dust. For months, he had endured the harsh realities of a war, his parents lost to the violence that ravaged their home. Leaving him alone suffer with no food except for the rats and bugs that litter the floors of the crumbling buildings.
Soldiers burned and looted all valuables. Leon only survived by hiding in the rubble of the destroyed homes or under the dead bodies of his village folks trying to stay away from and out of sight hiding and praying that none would find him. Leon prayed that this was all just a bad dream or that someone would save him but no one answered his prayers until a few months after the soldiers left he scavenged the building and found nothing no rats or even insects to eat. Going from building to building nothing was there. So Leon too tired and hungry fell to the ground lying against the wall of the broken home.
A sudden chill gripped the air as Leon lay weak and alone, sending a shiver down his spine. From the shadows emerged a towering figure, its presence casting an ominous shadow over the boy. With glowing blood-red eyes and pale, gaunt features, the being exuded an aura of otherworldly power.
"Who... who are you?" Leon's voice trembled as he spoke, his heart pounding in fear and curiosity.
The towering figure stepped closer, its voice resonating like distant thunder. "I am Vlados Sangrath," it declared, its words echoing through the ruins of his home. "And I offer you a chance at a new life, free from the pain and suffering that plagues you. You will have a chance at power and to never lose someone you cherish ever again."
Leon's eyes widened in disbelief. A chance for a new life? It seemed too good to be true. But as hunger gnawed at his belly and weakness threatened to consume him, the offer beckoned like a beacon of hope in the darkness.
"What... what do I have to do?" Leon asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"All you need to do is shake my hand and tell me your name and the contract will be made. So what will it be young child?" Vlados Sangrath replied, his eyes glinting with an unsettling hunger.
With trembling hands, Leon reached out and clasped the demon's outstretched palm telling him his name. As their hands met, a searing pain shot through Leon's body, and he cried out in agony. The demon's claws dug deep into his flesh, drawing forth a torrent of blood that flowed like a crimson river between them.
A twisted smile spread across Vlados Sangrath's lips as the blood pooled at their feet, forming intricate symbols that shimmered in the fading light. With a final surge of power, the demon's claws pierced through the veil of reality, tearing Leon's soul free from his broken body.
As the last traces of consciousness faded, Leon felt himself hurtling through the void, his spirit being consumed by darkness. And then, in a flash of blinding light, he was reborn.
Awakening to a strange new world, Leon found himself trapped in the body of a tiny leech, his memories of his former life fading like distant echoes. Surrounded by unfamiliar foliage and an eerie glow, he realized that his journey was only just beginning.
With a newfound sense of purpose burning within him, Leon vowed to rise above his humble beginnings and carve out a destiny worthy of his newfound power. As he slithered into the depths of the dark and foreboding forest, he knew that the pact he had made in the ruins of his home would shape the course of his existence for eternity. Little did he know that pain and suffering would follow soon as the demon watched with excitement at having a new toy to play with.